Social Psych- Aggression

aggression

behavior intended to cause harm to another who doesn't want to be harmed

types of aggression

- physical

- verbal

- psychological/relational

general aggression model

a broad approach to understanding the causes of aggression through a focus on situational factors, construal factors, and biological and cultural contributions

hostile aggression

aggression motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain

instrumental aggression

aggression motivated by the desire to obtain a concrete goal

- not as reactive/lack of control

How is aggression measured?

surveys and laboratory settings

survey measures

- real occurences (statistics)

- likelihood of aggression (self-reports)

lab analogs

- Taylor blast noise

- hot sauce

- voodoo dolls

- yoga poses

neural influences of aggression

inhibiting role of PFC

genetic influences of aggression

- can be bred in mice

- aggressive tendencies stable over time

- identical twins are similar in aggressive tendencies

biochemical influences of aggression

testosterone and alcohol

- men more physically aggressive

- drunk people more aggressive when provoked

physical state influences of aggression

pain and heat

- both make people more aggressive

frustration-aggression theory

the theory that frustration triggers a readiness to aggress

frustration

anything that blocks one's attaining a goal

example of frustration

rejection

- no social inclusion --> NTB destroyed --> aggression

Who are targets of aggression?

depends on who is available and "safe"

displacement

Shifts aggressive impulses toward a less threatening object or person.

example of displacement

A boss yells at an employee, who then takes it out on their spouse

social influence on aggression

people mimic others' actions

bobo doll study

Study that illustrates social learning of aggression; children observe an adult model's aggressive behavior and imitate the same behavior.

aggressive cues' influence on aggression

aggressive cues (ex: gun) can make peple act aggressively

gun type influence on aggression

Hunters don't see a hunting rifle as aggressive vs a hand gun

- non-hunters = increased aggression with both types of guns when provoked

media influence on aggression

- more violent movies = more aggressive

- more violent games = more aggressive

effects of violent video games

increase

- aggressive behavior/thoughts/emotions

- blood pressure

decrease social behavior/altruism

media and correlation

- insignificant evidence that video games make people more violent

- primes behavior, but not aggressive without provocation

effects of violent media on thinking

- desensitization

- social scripts (normalize)

- priming

Does catharsis work?

No --> engaging in aggressive behavior increases the likelihood of later aggression

ways to reduce aggression

reduce

- aversive stimuli

- exposure to violent media

- aggressive cues

promote non-aggressive behavior and empathy/perspective taking

I^3 theory of aggression

strong instigation --> strong impellance --> weak inhibition = strong aggression

instigating triggers

cause one or both partners to be frustrated or on edge

impelling forces

forces that increase the likelihood of an aggressive action following the instigating trigger (ex: being hotheaded)

inhibiting forces

factors that reduce tendencies to aggress

self-control and aggression

low self-control = high aggression

How can self-control be decreased?

impulse control effort used up = less to use later

access to nature and aggression

access to green spaces = less aggressive

- nature is calming

dehumanization

the attribution of nonhuman characteristics to other people, especially out groups

culture of honor

A culture defined by its members' strong concerns about their own and others' reputations, leading to sensitivity to insults and a willingness to use violence to avenge any perceived slight

culture of honor and aggression

a society that places high value on individual respect, strength, and virtue, and accepts and justifies violent action in response to threats to one's honor

rape-prone cultures

A culture in which rape tends to be used as an act of war against enemy women, as a ritual act, or as a threat against women to keep them subservient to men

inclusive fitness

an individual's reproductive success

stepparent and aggression

stepparents are more likely than parents to commit violence against their stepchildren

gender and aggression

- men are more physically aggressive

- women are more emotionally/relationally aggressive

precarious manhood hypothesis

The idea that a man's gender identity, which significantly involves strength and toughness, may be lost under various conditions and that such a loss can trigger aggressive behavior

reactive devaluation

the tendency of opposing sides to attach little value to any offer made by their counterpart in a negotiation

restorative justice

The process of having perpetrators of harm take responsibility and apologize to those they've harmed and for those individuals to express their grievances

Steven Pinker

- intelligence = less aggressive

- interconnection = less aggressive

- cooperation = less aggressive